Washington June 1^st 63.

 

Sis

            I received your letter just at noon to day and I was glad to hear that Jack was able to be about again, and out of danger. There has been nothing new going on here since I wrote to you last, only that comeing in of about eighty parroled sailors last thursday. They where taken on the Mississippi. They where a very hard looking set both raged and dirty and had hardly any shoes for they say they sold their own, to get something to buy grub or they would have starved. One fellow says he sold his boots for thirty dollars and was offered seventy before but he would not take it, but he says he had to take thirty after wards for the rebs took all there money and spoons and every thing / they had about them, so he had to sell them to get some money, and he bought some pork for a dollar and a quarter a lb. of cours in there own money which would be only half that price in our money for they say the rebs will give two dollars of their own for one of ours. They say they where kept for a good part of the time (three months) on corn meal and water. A sentry wounded one of them for geting out of the lines a little when he did not know it going for a bucket of water. He was shot through the jaw with buckshot takeing away all the teeth, and gum of the lower jaw. They say they never expected him to live at all and at firs they had to pump every thing in to him, when he would go to tak a drink of water it would run out through the opening in his neck and run down his brest / He is now here and is prety near well, but will not be able to get any teeth for he has no gum. You can immagin the condition they where in when they had not a change of cloths or even been washed the whole time, and laying in all sorts of holes, and as they stoped up here in the loft with us, with not a thing between us, I thought there was nothing more certain than we would get introduced to some of their Reble friends, but we have luckley escaped so far, and now there is no danger, for the next day after they come they all got new cloths and went down to the river and washed and throwed their old ones away. As I have nothing els to tell you, I will let you know what I have been doing since five Oclock this morning at that time we where all roused / out for drill at half past five untill half past six, and then we have from then untill eight to eat our breakfast and get ready for guard mount and then we have from that untill nine to wash the floor of our quarters and get ready for inspection which is in full uniform which I suppose you would lik to know what it is like, which I will tell you as near as I can. at this time a year it is white pants, a dark blue double breasted coat, stock, and a high hat with a reath of brass in front and a read pompoon on and appelets with yellow bullions. We where taken out about a half an hour in that trim and inspected. I have done nothing since then, but read a little and eat my dinner which was pork and beans, untill I commenced writeing. We have drill three times a week at the time we had it this morning and inspection once on Monday if the day is good. I will now close remember me to all inquireing friends and much love to all

 

                                                                                                                       

Charley

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